But here indicates a contrast. In 2 Cor. 8 and 2 Cor. 9 the apostle spoke pleasantly to the dear saints in Corinth, encouraging them to have fellowship in the ministry to the needy saints in Judea. Immediately after that, he desired to make himself more clear to them by vindicating, with a severe and unpleasant word, his apostleship, even his apostolic authority. This was needed because of the vague and clouded situation caused by the false, Judaistic apostles (2 Cor. 11:11-15), whose teaching and assertion of what they were had distracted the Corinthian believers from the fundamental teachings of the authentic apostles, and especially from the proper realization of Paul's standing as an apostle.

To be meek is to be mild toward men, without resisting or disputing. This indicates that the apostle, being firmly attached to Christ (2 Cor. 1:21) and being one with Him, lived by Him, behaving in His virtues.

Denoting humility, yieldingness, approachableness. See note Phil. 4:5² and note 1 Tim. 3:3^3b.

A word used in ancient times by pagans to express contempt for the Christian virtue of humility.

Or, of good courage. The apostle was bold, having courage to speak out in his Epistle the real situation.

Being human, the apostles were still in flesh; hence, they walked in flesh. But, especially in spiritual warfare, they did not walk according to the flesh; they walked according to the spirit (Rom. 8:4).

Since spiritual warfare is not against flesh but against spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12), the weapons should not be fleshly but spiritual. Such weapons are powerful to overthrow the strongholds of the enemy.

I.e., powerful in God's view, divinely powerful; hence, exceedingly powerful.

Reasonings and thoughts are in and of the mind. These are the strongholds of Satan, God's adversary, within the minds of those who are disobedient to God. Through the spiritual warfare, reasonings must be overthrown and every thought must be taken captive to obey Christ.

The haughty things within the reprobate mentality that are against the knowledge of God. These too must be overthrown by the spiritual weapons that they might no longer rise up against the knowledge of God.

Reasonings and thoughts are in and of the mind. These are the strongholds of Satan, God's adversary, within the minds of those who are disobedient to God. Through the spiritual warfare, reasonings must be overthrown and every thought must be taken captive to obey Christ.

This is a bold and severe word with a rebuke.

Our obedience affords a base from which the Lord can deal with others' disobedience.

This indicates that to be of Christ is an important matter. It is vital to the Christian life and ministry.

Apostolic authority, in contrast to people's consideration in their natural concept, is not for ruling over the believers but for building them up.

See note 1 Cor. 2:3^1a.

Or, of no account. Lit., made nothing of.

The apostle was bold, but not without limit. This shows that he was under the restriction of the Lord. His boasting was according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure, the ruling God, had apportioned to him.

Paul's ministry to the Gentile world, including Corinth, was according to the measure of God (Eph. 3:1-2, 8; Gal. 2:8). Hence, his boast was within this limit and, in contrast to that of the Judaizers, was not without measure.

Lit., measuring rod. Like the rule of a carpenter.

As the Judaizers did.

By being enlarged, increased. The apostles had the hope that through the growth of the Corinthian believers' faith, the apostles' ministry would be magnified (in the sense of being praised) by being enlarged and increased abundantly, yet still according to the rule, the measure, that God had apportioned to them.